The captain and selector will fill the genuine all-rounder's batting berth at No 6 for the series decider starting at McLean Park today, as New Zealand fields a stronger bowling line-up against an opponent plagued by its own batting inadequacies.
Sensing the quick bowlers could benefit even more from an unusually sporting wicket, Vettori all but confirmed Tim Southee would complement the standard three-pronged seam attack of Chris Martin, Iain O'Brien and Daryl Tuffey.
New Zealand forecast a change from the four-bowler strategy used in Dunedin and Wellington when confirming Daniel Flynn and Grant Elliott were vying for one middle-order berth.
With an extra bowler - Southee or off-spinner Jeetan Patel - Elliott's rarely used medium-pace becomes redundant so a struggling Flynn seems assured of resettling from first drop to No 5.
Vettori, who has New Zealand's highest score in the series (99 in Dunedin), has batted at No 6 in only four of his 96 tests, though given the home side's top- and middle-order issues, the skipper has invariably batted earlier than expected.
"I'm excited about it in some ways and a little bit nervous as well," Vettori said.
"Once you bat six, the expectations are different."
In seven tests this year, Vettori averages 53.75 and has scored centuries in Hamilton and Colombo, matching the ton tallies of Ross Taylor and Jesse Ryder.
Test cricket's most prolific run-scorer at No 8, Vettori first batted two spots higher against Sri Lanka in 1997; he did so most recently against the same opposition in Galle four months ago, though only because illness prompted a reshuffle.
Vettori has also batted at No 6 in his past four ODIs but at test level he suggested it might only be a short-term option.
"It depends on what the team needs at the time.
If Elliott and Ryder are fully fit and in the side, it gives you a nice complement of overs."
Consistent batting remains the target for both sides, with New Zealand's series-opening innings of 429 in Dunedin still the benchmark.
Napier can normally be relied upon to offer struggling batsmen relief, though turf manager Phil Stoyanoff has produced a wicket to encourage the quicks.
"Phil wants it to be a touch livelier than it has been in the past.
We've played on wickets here that favour the batsmen.
The balance will be a lot more even in this test match," Vettori said.
New Zealand produced four century-makers in last summer's Napier tests against the West Indies and Pakistan: Tim McIntosh, Taylor, Ryder and Brendon McCullum.
McIntosh, who averages 9.25 against Pakistan, and McCullum, who has tailed off since his 78 in Dunedin, are most in need of a repeat performance, while Flynn and Martin Guptill also crave some big numbers.
Vettori denied this test might be the last opportunity for some of his run-starved strokemakers.
"You want to give guys extended opportunities to prove themselves and this is just another one.
You just hope they go out there and grab it and relieve pressure off themselves," he said.
Pakistan is likely to make one change to a batting unit reliant on Mohammad Yousuf and the Akmal brothers, Umar and Kamran, with Shoaib Malik likely to make way for Faisal Iqbal.
Although his side's batting has been patchy, Yousuf was confident his seam attack of Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamer and Umar Gul would prevent New Zealand scoring heavily, regardless of whether his team's catching improved.
Pakistan blamed the cold and wind for its dozen catching lapses in the first two tests, but there should be no weather-related excuses here, with fine weather forecast.
New Zealand is seeking its first series win over a major test-playing nation since beating the West Indies in 2006, and its first win in Napier at the ninth attempt.
Pakistan's last series triumph was also at the West Indies' expense, and also in 2006.
